Hankensbüttel

Hankensbüttel is a town of 4500 people (2017) in Lower Saxony. For many visitors, its Otter Centre is the principal attraction to the town, bringing in 100,000 visitors a year, and hosting 60 special events through the year.

Understand

Junkerstraße in Wittingen, with half-timbered houses

This article covers attractions and facilities for visitors in and around the villages of Hankensbüttel, Knesebeck and Wittingen in the district of Gifhorn.

History

Hankensbüttel historically belongs to the group of Büttel towns. The first mention comes from a document by Emperor Heinrich III from the year 1051, in which the place is mentioned as "Honengesbuthele". At that time, the Billunger family, followers of the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, ruled the region. Located on important army and trade routes, there was a rapid development. As early as the 11th century, Hankensbüttel was the centre of an extensive parish and the seat of the episcopal court of the Diocese of Hildesheim.

During the Thirty Years' War, Hankensbüttel was in the marching area of ​​the fighting troops, at times the church was misused as an army camp and stable. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the place lived through the eventful history of the Hanoverian manor house. During the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), Hankensbüttel was under French rule, then part of the Kingdom of Westphalia (1807–1813), and from 1866 it belonged to Prussia.

Get in

Take a flight to Hamburg, Hannover or Berlin. Then take a high-speed train to Wolfsburg. From there, you may take a cab to Knesebeck. Alternatively, take the regional train to Knesebeck (via Braunschweig, Gifhorn), which might be a little bit slower.

See

• 1 Hankensbüttel Otter Centre (Otter-Zentrum Hankensbüttel), Sudendorfallee 1 (North of Gifhorn on the B 244 federal road), ☏ +49 5832 98080. 1 Feb - last Su in Mar: 09:30-17:00; last Sun in Mar - last Su in Oct: 09:30-18:00; last Sun in Oct - 30 Nov: 09:30-17:00. A great place to relax and enjoy wildlife. As well as otters, there are polecats, minks, otter hounds, badgers and other animals. Very educational and child-friendly with a good self-service restaurant on site. Well worth a detour (32 km / 20 mi). Adults €8.50, children 4-17 yr €5, family tickets and student etc. reductions available. 
• Isenhagen Abbey, Klosterstraße 2. An unfinished early Gothic monastery church and unfinished cloister. Additions from the 18th century. Interesting establishment of the monastery church (Renaissance and Gothic), separate abbey museum. (updated Jun 2020)
• 2 Privatbrauerei Wittingen, Ernst-Stackmann-Straße 7, Wittingen, ☏ +49 5831 255-44, caf@wittinger.com. Tour of the brewery available by appointment. (updated Nov 2024)

Do

There are good opportunities in Knesebeck for hiking, jogging, hunting and horse-riding.

• 1 Freibad Campingplatz (Strandbad Knesebeck), An der Badeanstalt. Public outdoor pool and beach, mini golf. 

Eat

• 1 Gasthaus Schützenhof, Lindenstr. 20, ☏ +49 5834 530151. 
• 2 Lübener Tenne, Lüben 1, ☏ +49 5831 25330. Brunch, traditional food, hospitality. 

Drink

This lovely morning view is of the Hankensbüttel Cemetery

• 1 Cafe Knesebecker Strandperle, An der Badeanstalt 1, ☏ +49 5834 5309120. 
• Tito's Bar, Posener Str. 6, Wittingen, ☏ +49 5831 251757. 

Sleep

Budget

• 1 Jugendherberge Hankensbüttel, Helmrichsweg 24, ☏ +49 58 32 25 00. 

Mid-range

• 2 Hotel and Restaurant Knesebecker Hof, Wittinger Str. 2, ☏ +49 5834 98810. 
• 3 Rentelmannsche Mühle, An der Emmener Mühle 1, Hankensbüttel, ☏ +49 5832 9317. 

Splurge

• 4 Hotel Restaurant Wittinger Tor, Salzwedeler Str. 4, Wittingen, ☏ +49 5831 25300. 

Go next

Attractions in the region are the Lüneburger Heide and the town of Gifhorn, the Phaeno and Autostadt in Wolfsburg, the historic old towns of Celle and Lüneburg as well as the Museumsdorf Hösseringen near Uelzen.